The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 guidelines to include the fact that the coronavirus can spread beyond six feet, especially in an indoor, poorly ventilated setting.
The CDC’s original guidelines read that the COVID-19 virus was transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled from a contagious person when they sneeze, cough, speak loudly, sing and other forms of secretion.
The updated guidelines include that transmissions are possible through smaller respiratory particles – aerosols – that are able to travel beyond the six feet recommended in the agency’s social distancing guidelines.
McLaren Macomb infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Ognjan says the updated guidelines are not uncommon with contagious diseases.
“Our current mitigation strategies –
face coverings and social distancing
– are still viable and important
strategies to help slow the spread
and avoid overwhelming hospitals…”
“More than six months into this pandemic, we’re still learning more about this virus, and that extends to how to spreads,” Dr. Ognjan said. “Other viruses spread through the air, but as the CDC notes in this update, droplets continue to be the more common form of transmission, with aerosols quite rare. Regardless, it’s still important for people to know and protect against cough and cold symptoms, especially as we’re entering flu season.”
The CDC acknowledges that this form of aerosol spread is rare and occurs mainly in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces.
“Our current mitigation strategies – face coverings and social distancing – are still viable and important strategies to help slow the spread and avoid overwhelming hospitals while we continue to work toward more targeted treatments and a vaccine.”
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